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SPRAY-APPLIED FOAM INSULATION

PART 1.00 - GENERAL

1.01 DESCRIPTION:

  1. Work included: Building insulation required for this Work includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

    • Spray-applied polyurethane in wall, roof and floor cavities.

    • Spray-applied polyurethane at crawl space walls and rim joists.

  2. Related work and materials described elsewhere:

Caulking Materials

Section 7900

2.01

Vapor barriers/slip sheets

Section 7200

2.02

Wiring in Foamed-in-place areas

Section 7200

2.02

1.02 SCOPE AND CONDITIONS OF THE WORK:

  1. Provide all labor, materials, accessories, services and equipment necessary to complete the Work.

  2. Comply with General Conditions, Supplementary General Conditions, any addenda, Division - 1 General Requirements, the Drawings, and all other Contract Documents.

  3. Coordinate with other portions of Work, and cooperate with other trades.

1.03 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS:

  1. All materials, products and equipment shall be delivered, handled, stored, fabricated, assembled, installed and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's printed instructions. If any contradiction exists between those instructions and the SECTION 7200, PART 1.03 Contract Documents, the Contractor shall obtain clarification from the Owner or his designated representative before proceeding with the Work.

  2. Contractor or owner shall clear building areas to be foamed-in-place of debris and materials prior to the commencement of foam-in-place operations. Comply with all federal, state and municipal codes, laws and regulations for thermal insulation and vapor retarders.

  3. Access for foamed-in-place installation hoses, equipment and vehicles: not more than 100' (hose length) from the farthest wall, roof, or floor cavity to be injected.

  4. Power for injection equipment: one, fifty amp, 220-volt circuit located within 100' of each vehicle access point. When required, heating equipment, ventilating equipment, and hand tools will need additional 110-volt circuits and receptacles separate from the foam equipment.

1.04 SUBMITTALS AND TESTS:

  1. Submit two (2) copies of manufacturer's specifications and installation instructions for each type of insulation required.

  2. .Submit two (2) copies of manufacturer's MSDS sheet for each type of insulation required.

  3. Samples: Provide samples of each type of foamed-in-place polyurethane for the Architect's approval.

  4. Provide daily test shot samples of foamed-in-place polyurethane to the Architect from each batch of foam for the Architect's approval.

  5. Certified Testing: When required by the contract documents, submit copies of certified test reports showing compliance with specified performance values.

1.05 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

  1. Spray-applied foam shall be installed so there will be not more than 3.00 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals during Blower Door testing. There shall not be more than an equivalent 2.5 square inches of leakage per 100 square feet of exterior surface area at 10 Pascals during Blower Door testing.  When required by the contract documents, submit certified test reports from a "Blower Door" test performed by a technician approved by the Owner or Architect.  The installer shall identify areas of leakage and undertake additional sealing if required to meet these performance specifications. Alternate methods allowed include infrared thermography (seasonal) and pressurized fog air leakage testing.

  2. Inspection of the installation shall be made to verify the minimum foam thickness required to achieve the specified R-value.

  3. The installer shall have a minimum of 3 years documented experience, demonstrating previously successful work of the type specified herein.

1.06 PROTECTION:

  1. Protection from deterioration: Protect installed insulation materials from physical damage and from becoming wet, soiled, or covered with ice or snow between phases of the work or after the completed installation. Do not expose to sunlight, except to the extent necessary for period of installation and concealment.

  2. Protection of the premises from damage: Protect against ignition at all times.

  3. Thermal protection of raw materials: Protect from freezing or extreme heat. Maintain chemical components at a minimum of 60 degrees while stored on site.

  4. Fire protection: The code states that the use of completely exposed foamed plastic in interior applications presents a fire hazard unless the foam is protected by one of the code approved 15 minute fire resistive barriers (usually 1/2" sheetrock, lath and plaster, or other approved finish or coating). Code requirements, if any, for unoccupied areas should also be followed. Comply with insurance ratings indicated.

  5. Health and safety: There are odors and vapors related to injected urethanes. While there is no danger from the vapors of this product during installation with normal venting, anyone with respiratory sensitivities should evacuate the premises while the work is being done. Protect areas where ventilation is adequate with signage and require personnel in the unvented area to wear proper breathing protection.

PART 2.00 - PRODUCTS

2.01 MANUFACTURER:

Field-applied foamed-in-place polyurethane foam insulation: FOAM-TECH, division of H. C. Fennell, Inc., N. Thetford, VT, (802-222-7740)

2.02 BUILDING INSULATION:

  1. Rigid, spray-applied polyurethane with Zero Ozone Depletion Potential blowing agent as provided by FOAM-TECH or approved equal, with an in-place density of 2.1 - 2.5 lbs. per cubic foot in the exterior walls, ceilings and floors. Foam product will be a standard polyurethane or polyisocyanurate 2-component mix for producing rigid, closed-cell insulation.

  2. Closed cell content: 90 percent minimum.

  3. Water absorption: 3.0% maximum.

  4. Blowing agent: Non-flourochlorocarbon (Non-CFC). Projects requiring SUPERGREEN FOAM™ or equal shall have an "Zero ozone depletion potential" blowing agent.

  5. Surface-burning characteristics: Maximum flame-spread and smoke developed indices of 75 and 450, respectively, based on tests performed on unfaced core by ASTM E-84 test method. F.K-value: 0.15 minimum when aged 90 days at 140o F dry heat.

  6. K-value: 0.15 minimum when aged 90 days at 140 F dry heat

2.03 OTHER MATERIALS:

  1. Vapor barrier/slip sheet shall be 6 mil polyethylene or equal installed in a
    workmanlike manner.

  2. Caulking shall be required with approved caulking compound at all locations requiring infiltration sealing too small (3/16" or less) .

  3. Non-metallic electrical wiring in foamed-in-place sections shall be Type NMB or NMC-B located a minimum of 1" from surface to be drilled.

PART 3.00 EXECUTION

3.01 EXAMINATION:

  1. Examine substrates and conditions for compliance with requirements of Sections in which substrates and related work are specified and to determine if conditions affecting performance of insulation are satisfactory. Do not proceed with installation until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected in a manner acceptable to the installer.

3.02 PREPARATION:

  1. Clear building cavities to be sprayed-in-place of debris and materials prior to the commencement of the installation. Clean substrates of substances harmful to the insulation, including moisture, dirt, or un-bonded coatings which will effect the insulation or prevent an air-tight seal. Remove projections which might puncture vapor retarders.

  2. Sheath one side of the walls and/or ceiling cavity to be sprayed. Seal all joints and close off openings to prevent foam leakage. Check to insure that the framed cavities are free of debris and that the surface to be sprayed is anchored to framing members.

  3. Unless otherwise specified, a vapor retarder/slip sheet is required and shall be a minimum of 4 mil polyethylene or equal installed in a workmanlike manner.

  4. Prepare the work before starting application. Put us and seal one side of the wall and/or ceiling to be sprayed. Seal all joints to prevent foam leakage.

3.03 INSTALLATION:

  1. Spray application instructions:

    • Process a two-component polyurethane foam system with 1:1 ratio by volume, positive-displacement, industry-standard pumping equipment. 

    • Monitor and maintain the component ratio and mix the components of the polyurethane chemicals in accordance with the manufacturer's product specifications and processing instructions to achieve the desired density and physical properties.  Verify the product component ratio with flow meters and programmable ratio monitoring equipment that can prevent the installation of product that is off-ratio by more than the manufacturer’s prescribed limits.

    • Monitor and maintain the component temperatures in accordance with the manufacturer's product specifications and processing instructions to achieve the desired density and physical properties.

    • Apply to a minimum or average cured depth as required in the contract documents.  Average thickness specifications will be to a ½” plus-or-minus tolerance.

    • Spray the mixed foam onto the substrate in multiple rises -- increments as recommended by the manufacturer. The foam will expand and give off heat.

    • The temperature on both sides of the wall must be a minimum of 40 degrees during foaming and for a forty-eight (48) hour period after foam has been placed in the wall cavity. If the exterior temperatures are below 40 degrees, the interior temperature must be 40 degrees for a minimum of eight (8) hours prior to injection and forty-eight (48) hours after completion. The outside temperature should not be less than 20 degrees unless the outside is protected by thermal insulation.

    • During foam operations, the above temperature requirements must be met while providing two (2) air changes per hour for ventilation for installation personnel. Heat during foaming operations shall be provided by vented or non-open flame sources.

    • Chemical components are to be maintained at a minimum of 65 degrees while stored on site.

    • Access for spray installation equipment and vehicles shall not be more than 150' from the farthest wall or roof cavity to be injected.

    • Power for spray equipment shall be one, fifty-amp, 220 volt circuit with standard plug receptacles located within 100 ' of vehicle access points.

3.04 CLEANING:

  1. Clean work area daily by sweeping and disposing of debris and scraps in a location designated by the Contractor or Owner.

  2. Upon completion of the work of this Section in any given area, remove tools, equipment, and all rubbish and debris from the work area; leave area in broom-clean condition.

END OF SECTION 7200 SPRAY-APPLIED URETHANE FOAM INSULATION